Ino's Pancetta, Lettuce, and Tomato Sandwich

Name: Ino's Pancetta, Lettuce, and Tomato Sandwich
Yield: Serves 4
Ingredients: 1 recipe Lemon Aioli; 8 ounces pancetta, sliced into 16 1/4-inch-thick slices; 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil for drizzling over the tomatoes; 2 or 3 ripe tomatoes, core end discarded, sliced into 1/4-inch-thick slices; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; 8 slices white or whole-wheat sourdough bread; 1 garlic clove, peeled; Approximately 2 cups arugula leaves, loosely packed (about 1 to 1 1/2 ounces)

By Nancy Silverton and Teri Gelber

March 29, 2010

Ino's Pancetta, Lettuce, and Tomato SandwichCookbook cover image courtesy of Random House

My favorite American sandwich is a BLT, yet it almost didn't make it into this book; the world doesn't need another recipe for it. But after eating at 'ino, a tiny sandwich shop in Greenwich Village in New York, I decided their version—a PLT—was a different story. P is for pancetta, sold at Italian delis and upscale markets. Cut from a large salami-like roll, it is the Italian version of bacon, unsmoked and cured with salt and spices. This is strictly a seasonal sandwich; I forbid you to make it at any time except when tomatoes are at their prime—ripe, juicy, and sweet.

Recipe notes

Smothered Italian Sausage

This is what I call a fridge-eater recipe. The key here is getting a nice sear on the sausage and cooking the tomato down until it coats the sausage and vegetables well.

Salmon With Sizzled Nut Salsa

A savory-hot salsa made with mixed nuts (like the kind dubbed cocktail nuts meant for snacking) gives roast salmon a kaleidoscope of textures and flavors.

Our Favorite French Onion Soup

Caramelized onions, melty Gruyère, and a deeply savory broth deliver the kind of comfort that doesn’t need improving.

White Bean Turkey Chili

A dash of cocoa powder adds depth and richness to the broth of this easy turkey chili.

One-Pot Chicken Thighs With Cilantro Rice and Beans

This one-pot dinner cooks chicken thighs directly on top of a bed of flavorful cilantro rice studded with black beans for a complete dinner.

Butternut Squash–Kale Salad With Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette

Round out these autumn greens with tart pomegranate seeds, crunchy pepitas, and a shower of Parmesan.

Dulce de Leche

Make this versatile caramel at home with our slow-simmered method using milk and sugar—or take one of two sweetened condensed milk shortcuts.

Golden Mushroom Soup With Orzo & a Pat of Butter

This is the type of soup that, at first glance, might seem a little…unexciting. But you’re underestimating the power of mushrooms, which do the heavy lifting.